Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular disorder which causes weakness in the skeletal muscles which are under voluntary control. It is an autoimmune disorder which occurs when body's own defence cells attack cells in neuromuscular junction.

The most characteristic symptom is dropping of eyelids and double vision. Other symptoms include fascial Paralysis, difficulty in talking and swallowing and chewing, difficulty in climbing stairs, difficulty in talking and fatigue. All these symptoms get worse as they day progresses.

Most of the cases of myasthenia gravis is treatable and one can work or live independently. But if a person develops complications it causes difficulty in breathing as respiratory muscles are affected which can be life threatening.

Myasthenia gravis is not completely curable but with medication and surgery it can go to remission for a long period of time and person could be symptom free.

Sometimes a tumour of thymus gland is associated with myasthenia gravis and removing it can help in improving the symptoms in a patient. Sometimes for effective treatment doctors also remove the thymus gland surgically even when there is no tumour.